{"id":99139,"date":"2025-07-28T10:40:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T10:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/99139\/"},"modified":"2025-07-28T10:40:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T10:40:18","slug":"its-not-their-first-rodeo-36th-texas-black-invitational-rodeo-celebrates-cowboys-legacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/99139\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s not their first rodeo, 36th Texas Black Invitational Rodeo celebrates cowboys legacy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lesa Ellinger blasted out of a metal gate, riding a sleek cross between a thoroughbred and a quarter horse. Her white embroidered button-up flapped in the wind as she rode in formation with her fellow drill team members, guiding her horse in perfect sync around the arena. The crowd admired with awe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to ride horses. I think I came out wanting to ride horses,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

This summer marks Ellinger\u2019s fifth time performing in the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo, which takes place at Fair Park in South Dallas each year. She\u2019s been riding for Circle L5 Riding Club, a Black horseback riding club, since 1991.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt still gets me nervous, and I\u2019ve been doing it for a while, but I still get nervous about it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

News Roundups<\/p>\n

Catch up on the day’s news you need to know.<\/p>\n

\"CompetitorsCompetitors compete in Pony Express relay races during Texas Black Invitational Rodeo at Fair Park Coliseum, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

Ellinger dreamed of riding since she was a little girl growing up in New York. Despite having no background in equestrian sports, she started training in dressage competitions at 12 years old. When her parents moved to Texas in 1989, she agreed to move on one condition \u2013 they would buy her a horse. <\/p>\n

In Southlake, Ellinger found new freedom and community. Owning her own horse meant she could compete as she pleased, and her search for a riding club introduced her to a new world of Black riders. Up North, she was used to seeing predominantly white horse riders, so joining Circle L5 was an exciting change.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was something that I felt comfortable to kind of know what my people are doing and kind of see how they interacted with horses just the same,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Each year, the Black Invitational Rodeo brings together riders like Ellinger from across the country to compete for cash prizes in bronc and bull riding, calf and steer roping, barrel racing and Pony Express relay. Now in its 36th year, the rodeo celebrates the legacy of Black cowboys and cowgirls with a night of family-friendly fun and competition.<\/p>\n

Related:Here\u2019s everything you need to know about the Texas Black Invitational Rodeo in Dallas <\/a><\/p>\n

But beyond the fun, the event serves a deeper mission. <\/p>\n

Launched in 1985 by African American Museum founder Harry Robinson Jr. as a fundraiser, the rodeo highlights the overlooked history of Black cowboys in American culture. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives us a chance to remind Texans and the rest of the world that the Western front was blazed by African American horsemen and cowgirls,\u201d said Margie Reese, interim executive director of the African American Museum in Dallas.<\/p>\n

Robinson partnered with rodeo legend Cleo Hearn<\/a> to bring the event to life. Hearn is one of the first Black cowboys to compete professionally in major rodeos across North America and traveled all over the region with his wife and four sons before founding his own rodeo company, Cowboys of Color Rodeo.<\/p>\n

\"PeoplePeople cheer during Texas Black Invitational Rodeo at Fair Park Coliseum, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

That first year was a gamble. Hearn and Robinson rented out only half of the coliseum because they were unsure about how many people would show up. The original event featured only bronc and bull riding and calf roping. They ended up with a packed house of over 500 attendees.<\/p>\n

Decades later, the Black Invitational Rodeo has grown into the museum\u2019s largest annual fundraiser, attracting about 7,000 attendees and 150 competitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that now more than ever, young people want to see what we\u2019ve talked about,\u201d Reese said. \u201cThey want to learn and stand on the shoulders of those men and women who have blazed the trail for our own culture, but also for this country.\u201d<\/p>\n

And now it\u2019s Cleo\u2019s sons \u2014 Harlan, Eldon, Robby and Wendell Hearn, the rodeo manager \u2014 who run the show.<\/p>\n

Related:Want to enjoy North Texas museums for free? Here\u2019s where to go<\/a><\/p>\n

Wendell understands that their event might be the first time someone hears about Black cowboys.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get people that move in from California, from Detroit, from Chicago, from New York,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of a sudden, when they move here \u2026 they\u2019re like, I\u2019ve never seen a Black cowboy.\u201d <\/p>\n

That awe and excitement is what brought Leah Frazier to the rodeo this year for the first time. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have so many historical legends here in Dallas that are actually taking Dallasites to other Black rodeos in other states, and so I want to just be a part of that whole movement,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"KalebKaleb Lewis of Kaufman, Texas, competes in bull riding during Texas Black Invitational Rodeo at Fair Park Coliseum, Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Dallas. (Chitose Suzuki \/ Staff Photographer)<\/p>\n

For faithful attendees like Hubert Ransom, seeing the arena filled with more young people each year is just as exciting as the calf roping.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get to see the cowboys and cowgirls show their talent and plus, you get people here to represent, to come out and see them as spectators,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s good for everybody, the participants and the fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each summer, the people in the stands remind the Hearn family this isn\u2019t just a rodeo, it\u2019s an act of preservation. Plus, the competitors have formed a tight-knit community. Hearn said he\u2019s dedicated to continuing the legacy. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe history of the Black cowboys is etched in American history,\u201d Wendell Hearn said. \u201cBut if we don\u2019t tell it, what will happen? It\u2019ll easily fade away, and you\u2019re waiting on the next group to tell it. So somebody\u2019s got to keep the story going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and KERA.<\/p>\n

This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol & Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, Communities Foundation of Texas, The University of Texas at Dallas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer & Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access\u2019 journalism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Lesa Ellinger blasted out of a metal gate, riding a sleek cross between a thoroughbred and a quarter…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":99140,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,11321,7711,1596,3553,8160,14053,62,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-99139","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dallas","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-arts-entertainment","10":"tag-arts-access","11":"tag-dallas","12":"tag-feature","13":"tag-museums","14":"tag-south-dallas","15":"tag-sports","16":"tag-texas","17":"tag-tx","18":"tag-united-states","19":"tag-united-states-of-america","20":"tag-unitedstates","21":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","22":"tag-us","23":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114930439114808638","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}